Canada's DFO met friday and they are projecting an opening on, friday July 23rd
2 more weeks of dropping will really expose the bars again and stack up the fish

Either way I'm going next friday. I'll let you all know what's going on.

GMAN

How well accepted is flossing in Canada? Is it something they picked up on their own, or did they learn it from their "ugly American" neighbors?

Hey Doc... Flossing was invented up here!

These Canucks are so good at it, they can floss a sturgeon!!!
Other wise, they could fish it like the Skagit, Cow or Lewis.

DFO is so on this. They fly up and down the river several times aday and count fishermen. Up stream, they count moving fish at several locations. They count the commericials, then they meet several times a week to see if the numbers warrant closing the season or not yet.
Good question

Man, as a closet-flosser, I can only imagine how fun that Fraser Floss Fest must be!

One of these years, I'm gonna have to venture to The Great White North for some flossin', A.

Yo G!

We'll be up there August 6th 7th and 8th. Look us up. Top end of Grassy camping.

Same thing up in Alaska. Flossing is the way they do it on the Situk in Yakutat. And they do catch a bunch of chromers! But, remember, everyone has probably flossed a few over the years. Bondogging for steelhead is probably 40% flossed fish.

Fnp..tell us how you catch Sockeye on the Kenai without flossing. Tell us what you do different to make those fish aggressively bite your lure.

Hmmmm, I boondog a lot and I have never flossed a steelhead. I know flossed fish too. I guided up in Alaska and 99.9% of the Sockeye that were caught during Sockeye season were flossed fish. What makes you think that boondoging steelhead results in a flossed fish 40% of the time. I just don't get that.

Grandpa....I have to agree with you on that one...I don't think any Sockeye I have caught or seen caught on the Kenai bit at anything but that unpleasant sliding sensation as a line through went through their mouth....

AND GUESS WHAT!? IT WAS STILL A BLAST!!!!

Just talked to the "head guy" at DFO. It would appear friday will be the start of flossin' sockeye. The best part was DFO expects to keep the fraser open until sept. 6 if sockeye show up in expected number. We could get a 6 week season at these fish. Look for a notice sometime on thursday saying the season has started.

:rolleyes: Wow. As made up and thoughtless statistics and statements go, that one was a doozey!

That's kinda like me saying that when using a flasher and a bare hook, 40% of the Lake Washington Sockeye are flossed fish.

I think I need to clear up some misconceptions about this fishery. Every year GMan comes on this board and brags about his snaging prowess and every year I say the same thing (under different user names, I keep losing the damn things!):

* The springs in the Fraser do bite. Lots of guys get them on bar rods (plunking) in 6" of visibility on big spin 'n glows. Multiple fish days are not uncommon. Of course the bar fishing improves as the water cleans up. The notion that snagging springs because it's "only way to get them" is self serving.

* If you intentionally target springs in the Fraser with 10' leaders and bouncing betties you are a snagger.

As for the sockeye, flossing is most likely the only way to harvest these fish. This is a meat fishery and there is no more sport involved than dropping a net. Having said that, if you do decide to participate than please make sure to:

*Use heavy gear. Leaving gear in fish isn't cool, the locals use 20 - 30# leaders. Remember, you are snagging fish, there isn't any sport involved.

* Leave the sockeye alone once you bonk out. These fish have a long way to go and water temps the past few years have been 2-3 degrees higher than normal. C&R mortality is thought to be high. Being a hero and C&Ring fish until your arms are sore is irresponsible and unethical. Todays abundance is tommorows closure.

I don't want to sound too negative. The scenery on the Fraser is great and Sturgeon fishing and bar fishing for Springs can be phenomenal. There are lots of bars to camp on the river and the locals are friendly.

Come up, have a great time and kill your 4 sockeye. But please don't go through 50 sockeye after you've bonked out trying to snag that last Spring to fill your limit.

ooile, I agree with some of what you said. "Get your 2 fish and maybe your king and quit!"
Most mornings I'm off the river by 7 or 8 AM!

Stop C&Ring the Sox.

But I once thought as you did, "Flossing is just snagging!"

I tried that my first year. Don't work like that. You come up to the Fraser with that technic and thinking and your going home BUMMED OUT!

Casting and jerking is SNAGGING! Period!
Flossing is feeling the line go through the fishes mouth and setting the hook. Before it goes out of it's mouth.
I've lost alot of fish the first few years until I learned this.

Yes, there are people out there that use 30 lb test main line and leaders and 4/0 5/0 hooks. I've seen 8/0!!!

But they are not out there for the real reason you and I are. "THE EXPERIANCE AND BEAUTY OF THE RIVER!" Catching a fish is only a small bonus

I don't drive from Bellingham to the Coloumbia, ect, to a Floatilla, to catch a $4.00 a pound fish because I NEED the meat! You Think???

I use 12 lb Maxima Ultragreen. 2/0 3/0 hook. I do not want to hook a fish in the belly or throat!!!

I use a 9 ft rod 8-12 lb line weight. Not a Diawa BEEF STICK!

I don't have to fish for sox . I make enough money I can buy all I want, no matter how much per pound it is!

So, before you accuse and sentence me of being a "Snagger" You should fish with me and find out how much I love this sport and care about it being around for my children's children.

Many times I have called the Warden on Poachers (RAPERS!) And will continue to do so if you break the Game Laws! Because that now, that affects me and my children!

Garett

Gman,

I edited my post to take out the line directed at you.

I never said this though:

"Get your 2 fish and maybe your king and quit!"

Try them on the bar rod, they bite. Love the sport or not, you are participating in a snag fishery for wild Chinooks. And it gets a little tiresome to see you come on the board every year at this time and gloat about snagged fish.

FWIW I have flossed my share of socks and chinooks but I'm finding this fishery more disappointing every year. Furthermore the poor ethics are spreading to other rivers in the Lower Mainland.